"Boxes, Boxes, Boxes," Lilith cheerfully sang.

Mum couldn't contain her laughter any longer. "You do know we're only staying for the night, right?"

"Susan, trust me, these boxes aren't enough. I'm trying to manage," Lilith told Mum.

Yes! My soon-to-be stepsister had quit the 'mom' thing, which, judging by Mum's expression, I was sure she wished would continue. But joking aside, I'm not ready to share her with any child, so I respect Lilith for stepping back.

"What, are you a mermaid?" I thoughtfully asked Lilith.

"Don't mermaids have one outfit?" she inquired, curiously.

Okay.

Without so much as a glance, Sawyer jumped into the car. She had been giving me the silent treatment since I paid for the cooking book I tore.

"Where's Leigh?" Mum asked after Christian finished fitting all the bags inside the boot.

With annoyance, Christian huffed and stalked back into the house.

"Get yourselves settled in." Mum spun around and commanded the two of us standing by the car.

To avoid lengthy dialogues and dramatic attitudes, I situated myself away from Sawyer. Just my usual position in the last row.

"Get in," I heard Christian telling his two children before the breathtaking scent took over my universe, and in came Leigh, sitting immediately next to me.
Déjà vu.

Lilith plugged in her AirPods once she was seated in the second row with my cousin on her left, who now doesn't see me the same way.

"Ava?"

"Yes, Mom?" I answered, feeling his eyes on me.

"Seatbelt?"

My eyes reluctantly rolled as I adjusted myself. "Check."

"Good." With that, Christian started the car and pulled out of our driveway.

I turned on my mobile phone and logged into the only game I have.

I was violently punching the screen when a text message came through, but upon seeing the sender's details, I ignored it and continued slapping birds without any real intention of winning.

Ping* slap. Ping*

I glanced at the sender who was beside me with a "Don't you dare push me to the wall" look.

Leigh looked innocently perfect in a red button-down shirt and black jeans, although his rich chestnut hair was a tousled mess—slightly falling over his forehead, giving a glowing pop to his earthly green eyes and devilish red lips, begging me to take them in mine.

Focus, Ava. You're mad at him. Focus.

He stared at me for a short period of time before turning back to his phone, giving me a view of his defined jaw and sculpted neck.
God! It should be illegal to look this great.

Ping*

But he can also be annoying. That's it, I told myself when I went with my instincts, even though I knew the risk of being a dork in front of my mum.

I unbuckled my seatbelt and climbed over the second row, receiving several curses from my soon-to-be stepsister and disturbing groans from my dear cousin.

"What the hell is the meaning of this childishness?" Mum practically yelled.

"I can't breathe." That wasn't a lie; Leigh had consumed my oxygen.

"Correct, she's been suffocating." The idiot certified. It's hard to miss the smugness in his sexy voice. Drawing the attention of the two girls beside me, they observed him for a moment. Let's say Sawyer observed him since Lilith only flasued a grimace and turned back to her mobile phone.

"Hold on, I will pull over." Christian suggested.

"No, I'm fine now. Don't worry."

I refused to open the text messages Leigh sent, just like I refused to leave my door unlocked last night.

After witnessing something I'm sure was child abuse on school premises and realizing Leigh was enjoying it just like the teacher was, I don't know what to make of it.

Okay, if I'm being completely honest, I think I had come to a decision since I stayed up all night without so much as a blink—trying to erase the dark memories from my mind.

I think we can all agree, the perfect Mr. Leigh Boyce is nothing but a man whore.

***

"Oh my!" Sawyer's mouth was hanging open, just like mine. I've never been this close to Bellagio, and while Christian was driving through the self-park entry, even Mom was admiring the technology.

By the time we all got out and made our way to the elevator, everyone was smiling, except for the person trying to lock eyes with me.

"Dear Earth, is that a garden?" I mumbled.

"Oh, wait until you see the chocolate fountain," gleeful Christian told us.

"No way." I grinned.

Lilith excitedly pulled me into her arms. "We're gonna explode Instagram."

"So American," Sawyer mumbled, but I decided to ignore her and follow Lilith as we all headed to the elevator for the suites.

I should ask why we skipped the reception, but knowing Christian Boyce, my mind is at ease.

"I can't believe we're sharing the presidential suite with you guys while Leigh gets an executive parlor suite. Isn't that a little unfair? No, huge unfair?" Lilith complained.

"The rooms are occupied; I couldn't book a suite for you girls," Christian explained to us, his eyes on his daughter.

"He's unbelievable. I don't know who to hate between the two of them, though," Lilith whispered.

"Maybe he's telling the truth?"

"No! I smell lies. He wants us girls closer. That's how Dad can be. And he wants Leigh to have all the happiness that Earth could offer, mostly because he scored eleven points last night."

After sinning in the classroom yesterday, Leigh managed to close the game with a touchdown, and I swear I saw tears of joy on his father's face.

Strolling through the corridors, we both glanced over at Leigh, where Mom was warning two older women about his age, after the ogling show they put on for the effortlessly handsome soon-to-be stepbrother of mine.

Have some dignity, old women. This caused me to mentally roll my eyes for the hundredth time today.

"How does he do it?" I asked.

"I can't even understand. I mean, we have the same genes, right? Only if you're right about the adoption thing." Lilith muttered quietly, and I giggled at her joke.

***

"You guys can rest before lunch or do whatever you want, as long as it doesn't involve killing each other and remains within teenage bounds," Christian and Mom warned us before disappearing into their room, which was opposite ours.

The three of us were forced to share a bedroom, and even with a king-size bed, I still didn't think it would be sufficient. Don't get me wrong, the presidential suite was the most luxurious I'd ever seen, but I wished we had more sleeping space.

"I should go to the private pool. Hell, I should go to the pool outside. Who knows, I might get lucky?" Lilith squealed and rushed to the bathroom with different pairs of bikinis.

"You should follow your twin sister," Sawyer sarcastically threw at me with suggestive eyes.

"What's wrong with you?" I shrugged, annoyed.

"You tell me."

"Whatever." I hissed and left the bedroom to take a tour around the beautiful place we were calling home for the weekend.

The place reeked of money, and everything looked extravagant. I was trying to pour myself a drink at the private bar when my phone pinged again.

This time, I decided to look.

Leigh: We need to talk.

I even read the messages he sent when we were riding in the car.

Leigh: Why are you slapping your phone screen?
Leigh: Why aren't you replying to me?
Leigh: You can't ignore me forever.
Leigh: Stop ogling me if we aren't talking.

I scoffed before typing a reply.

"No, we don't. Can you just let me have a peaceful weekend?"

Ping*
Leigh: If only you'd hear me out.

I aggressively punched the mobile phone screen as I responded.
"To hell with what you have to say. I intend to relax this weekend, and that's what I'm going to do."

Quickly, I turned off my phone and continued with my business.

By lunchtime, Leigh joined us in our suite as the 24/7 butler, who had been assisting us, brought a team to decorate the dining table with a variety of expensive food. It was a quick meal since Sawyer and Lilith were eager to rush back to the busy party pool outside, and Christian was taking Mom for a tour around the casino.

You'd say life was treating me well when I lay alone on the comfy bed and turned on the television. But it didn't last forever, and that happened when I opened the entrance door.

"Let's go," he commanded.

"What?" Dumbfounded, I shook my head.

"Come on." He gripped my wrist and pulled me out of the suite.

"Where are we going?" I panicked as he dragged me along with him to the elevator.

"Somewhere where you'll talk to me." His voice was calm, but his eyes weren't.

I attempted to yank my hand off, but his grip was too firm, and I had to give up.

Instead, the only revenge I could apply was silence. So I promised myself not to respond to anything he had to say, even when I wanted to ask how he got my mom's car key.

He buckled my seatbelt while I was fuming. Immaturely, I know, but I couldn't help it. You can't blame me. I wanted to have a nice weekend to clear my head, but here I am, in a car driving away from the luxurious hotel I wanted to stay in forever.

I stared through the window without glancing at him, even though I could feel his eyes on my skin.

It was less than, or maybe exactly, ten minutes when he pulled into another hotel, and my jaw dropped involuntarily.

"Are you crazy? You kidnapped me from one hotel to another?" I crossed my arms over my chest, raising an eyebrow, waiting for an explanation from the unbelievable person beside me.

"So we're talking now? Great improvements," he said, turning off the car and getting out.

"Only because you triggered me," I spat.

"Then let's see how much I can trigger you." He crossed over and grabbed my hand again, this time more gently, and I succumbed to the warmth of his palm.

Anger successfully blurred my vision, and I couldn't grasp anything until I found myself standing at the end deck of the Stratosphere Tower.

"Why are we here?" I asked Leigh.

"To get you to talk," he simply answered.

I exhaled with an annoyed laugh and faced him. "If this is your way of making me talk, you must be really dumb. I thought you could come up with something more triggering."

"Trust me, you're going to start talking in the next few minutes." He smirked and wrapped his fingers around my wrist again.

"Keep dreaming," I sassily mumbled.

Yes, sassily. Even more sassily when he attached a wristband around my left hand.

I tried to comprehend what was happening and why I had a wristband when I got seated and buckled next to Leigh in some weird contraption, with some people whom I was sure worked there.

Seated and buckled up? Fuck no!
Asshole.

"Let me off," I panicked, trying to unbuckle myself, but the engine had already started.

"Touch anything, and you're going to fall almost a thousand feet." He calmly announced.

My heart either stopped, or I was too alarmed at the moment to feel anything. "What the fuck is wrong with you?" I yelled.

"Stop swearing. I don't want to be a bad influence."

I laughed, an actual sobbing laughter, and began to weep as the X-Scream ride inclined and charged to release.

I could see Vegas, I could see the entire universe screaming death at me, and I knew I was already a corpse.

"Why are you doing this, Leigh? This isn't you. Please get me off," I dropped the arrogant act and begged.

"Make sure to smile. That guy is taking a video, and I really think it should go on Instagram." I wanted to kill him for seeming so comfortable, even though we were about to ride the scariest thing ever made.

"Please, Leigh. You really want to hurt me?" So I played the sympathy card.

Frowning, he tilted his head and shook it, and somehow, I began to feel a surge of relief. "I would never hurt you."
And boom! Release*

Either I'd become paralyzed that I couldn't scream, or I was too terrified to hear my own voice, but either way, my heart was pounding harder than ever, and my lungs felt like they were closing, making breathing painful.

The ride slowed down and came to a halt just when I thought it was going to throw us hundreds of feet.
Oh yes, and it started charging back again.

"What is it doing?" I tried questioning with wide eyes.

"Rebooting."

"You have to be kidding me," I wobbly muttered.

"The wristband meant unlimited rides, Ava. The faster you start communicating, the faster we get off this, or Vegas will hear you scream all day."

I hated him. No, hell. "I hate you," I spilled out, shaky.

"I know. So tell me, why?" he asked.

Release.

Shit. "Ahhhhh."

"Please, Leigh, get me off here," I cried.

"Talk to me. Why do you hate me, Ava?"
I hated him.

"I don't hate you." No, I hated him.

Charging...
"Please, I want to get off," I'd never been so afraid of heights.

"Why did you close your door last night?"

"Because you're my..." Release.... scream* "Stepbrother... please, Leigh, I'm scared." I whimper.

I'm sure if the machine didn't throw me out to my death, fear would.

"That's not an excuse, Ava. You promised." Hurt is evident in his tone.
Charging...

I look around for help, but there is none beside the guy recording the video, whom I wish I could smack his head against the wall for watching me get humiliated while he enjoys it.

"You also promised to be loyal." I fire back.

"Really? So what did you achieve by bringing me back home?" His eyes narrow.

"Maybe nothing. Maybe I wished you never came back."

Release.
Screw me. Scream*

I'm sure my throat will be sore. That is, if I make it out of here alive.

"So you played me and left me thinking you felt the same way? Nothing was real to you?" His eyes form creases as he locks his dark gaze with mine.

"No! Don't even go there. I gave you everything. I trusted you. You ended everything, you ended us. Though I doubt there was anything like 'us' in reality, I only fooled myself believing what we had was something. But no, you're the popular Leigh Boyce who can do anything he desires, and having some dignity is what you lack." I sputtered, and his jaw clenched.

He takes in a sharp breath and swallows, his eyes darkening even more, and his nose flaring. "You're going to keep using that against me, aren't you? You're going to keep judging me for a single mistake I made when I was drunk?"

"Deliberately, Leigh. Everything that happened, you intentionally allowed it because you believed you earned every power to." I remind him, picturing his hand pulling Embry to him and his lips smothering hers in between.

Screw it! Life is painful.
Release...
Fuck my reality.

His head shakes slowly as pain takes over his features. "That's not true."

"Not true? Really? Okay, how about this? I saw you last night, I saw you with a teacher." I blurt out, almost choking on my breath.

Yes! That got him. The sudden change in his demeanor wasn't surprising. He was caught. Now he knows I know about his hookups.

"You're a man whore, a liar, a deceiver, the perfect example of a two-faced, pretentious human. I hate you more than I've ever hated anything, and knowing you is now my biggest regret." I say, tears rolling down my face.

With salt—I had washed the wound in my heart again, and I realize it was more painful than the ride I was damned for at this moment. Yes, I didn't scream at the release anymore. Hopelessness had blanketed me, and I calmly welcomed the fear.

"That's not fair," he mumbled, despair filling his tone.

"I want to get off here." I boldly ordered, even though I couldn't stop the tears freely pouring down my face.

***

The rest of the day went by, enveloped in torturing pain. We had dinner at Lago. Mom made the order, filling the table with a variety of desserts, while Lilith and Sawyer took pictures of themselves and our dinner for their social reputations. Leigh was devoted to his mobile phone.

Even with the fountain show in front of us, I kept my head inclined and tried to force the Italian food in front of me. Nothing could cheer me up at this moment.

My reality is doleful, blurry, and lacking in zest. I only wanted to sleep, so when we were finally done, I didn't hesitate to rush back to the suite.

I even spared myself the time and energy of deciding on sleeping arrangements with the girls and lay down on an armless sofa.

The next day, Mom and Christian took everyone, including my lifeless figure, on a tour around the casino. I didn't notice a thing. I was just as useless as I felt inside that, when we loaded back into the SUV in the evening, I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. Just as we came, I sat in the second row with my head against the window, not caring about Sawyer sharing the back row with Leigh.

"Fred! Charles's son is back in town, and I promised to visit tonight. Leigh, you should come with me," Christian said to his son as we drove through the hills gate.

"Alright."

Maybe Lilith was right. Maybe her brother was nothing but a puppet, only he strikes, which makes him like Chucky doll from the movie.

"Ava, you have a weekend guest," Lilith furrowed her brows at the windshield, and I lifted my head to follow her gaze.

Arlen Garret.
He is sitting on his shiny bumper.

Could my weekend get any more eventful?

"Good day, Mr. Boyce. Good day, ma'am," Arlen greets Mom and Christian as we all finally climb out of the BMW SUV.

"Hey, Arlen. I hope you're doing great. Nice game last night."

"Thank you, sir."

I heard Sawyer asking Leigh if he likes chicken teriyaki for dinner, and I heard him mumbling something.

But I was too bothered to find out the reason for Arlen's visit, so I walked towards him.

"Hey?"

"Hey, nice hair," he smiles. When we were setting out to leave Bellagio, I didn't have time to tie my hair into my everyday ponytail, so it is freely falling around my shoulders.

"Thank you." I bite my lip and nervously lace my fingers. I'm not used to compliments, so I still feel embarrassed when boys comment on my appearance.

"What are you doing here?" I ask Arlen, almost in unison with the husky, angry voice behind me.

Leigh!

Arlen doesn't answer him but keeps his eyes on me as he asks, "Can we take a walk down the street?"

I was weighing whether accepting Arlen's offer is appropriate for my situation when Leigh growls, "Don't you have a trip with your dad?"

Arlen glances over at Leigh and replies, "We just came back." His eyes flicker back to me. "And I couldn't resist another minute without seeing you. I have a lot to say. I hope you don't mind talkative men?"

I can hear Leigh's heart pounding against his chest, and his enraged breathing confirms that he is seething behind me. So I take the risk. If it will hurt him and make him feel the way I'm suffering, I'm willing to take the chance. "Okay, give me a few minutes to change out of this." I say and head into the house to my bedroom.

I quickly change out of my outfit and replace them with a dress that falls just above my knees. I put on my white trainers and brush my hair before gathering it into a ponytail this time.

I am about to open the door when the door does me a favor and in comes Leigh.

Trying to process the ambush, he was looming over me with my back against the wall, and my breath was starting to drift away. My legs were trembling, and I felt a wave of unsteady nerves as I swallowed.

"What are you doing, Ava?" Leigh's voice was soft but thick with emotion, primarily pain and jealousy.

I averted my gaze from his intense eyes. "I don't know." I attempted to shrug off his grasp, but as always, he was stronger.

"Please don't do this," he pleaded.

"Why?" I turned my confused eyes back to his desperate gaze. "Do you enjoy seeing me so broken?" How dare he? He gets to do whatever he wants and expects me to remain lonely forever?

"I can explain, I promise." Desperation doesn't adequately capture his state. He is filled with fear. But fear of what?

"It doesn't matter anymore. We're two different people. I should go. I shouldn't keep him waiting." I meant Arlen Garret.

"Why do you choose to torment yourself?"

"I am not tormenting myself."

"You don't want him," he accused. In the short time we've spent together, I think he knows me well enough to understand that I don't want to be with Arlen. But do I have any other choice?

"I do." I lied, assuming a pretentious attitude.

"I don't believe you." He slightly backed away, hurt evident in his eyes, and his Adam's apple sharply protruding through his skin.

"Get out of my way."

"Please don't," he pleaded.

"Why? Why, Leigh?" I frowned in exasperation. "Give me a good reason why I shouldn't?"

"No, I will give you your forever, Ava. You're mine, mine alone."